Born With Cerebral Palsy, Bhavnagar Boy Now Set To Sprint For India At Commonwealth Games

Bhavnagar: Rakesh Bhatt, a para sprinter from Moti Babariyat village in Talaja, Bhavnagar, has been selected for India’s squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Born with cerebral palsy, the 25-year-old struggled with mobility as a child. He now competes in the T37 category in 100m and 200m events.

Trained at PACE Academy, Gujarat University under coach Apurba Biswas, Rakesh has won 15 national golds and 18 national silvers. His recent wins include double gold at the Delhi World Para Athletics Grand Prix and the National Para Championships in Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru.

From physiotherapy sessions as a child to racing on the world stage, his selection is a landmark moment for Gujarat’s para sports.